Exposure With Prevention of Response
The exposure technique with prevention of response is essential in the treatment of pathological gamblers (Becona, 1996b; Fernandez-Montalvo & Echeburua, 1997; González, Jiménez & Aymami, 1999; Labrador & Fernandez-Alba, 1998). However, it is also an essential technique in other addictions (e.g., heroin dependence, sex addiction, etc.). For example, we indicate below how it applies to addiction to slot machines.
The purpose of the exposure is to expose the player to a slot machine. Through the presence of the clues that have been associated, notice the annoying sensations that, without preventing the response or with money, would lead you to gamble. The prevention of the response has as its objective the impossibility of consummating his behaviour, in this case, his behaviour of playing.
The most frequently associated clues to gambling behaviour in slot machines are being at the bar and looking at the machine. The person notices how the coloured lights of the machine are changing in an upward direction. He also watches as another person puts money into the machine and gets a prize. Other people look at the person who has received an award and comment on it, etc.\
Stimulus control
A technique that is frequently used in Addictions is stimulus control. In the case of pathological gambling, it is essential to treat the individual (Becona, 1996b). With this technique, we restrict access to those places where the probability of gambling increases or hours of greatest risk or of consuming a substance. The person is trained in the search for alternatives to their previous customs. Also, to have someone accompany him in situations of greater risk to gambling or buying heroin, for example.
It is important to control money since it is one of the most important stimuli for a person to gamble or buy a drug. Your probability of gambling or buying drugs is greatly reduced if you don’t have money. In this case, the player must transfer all his money to a relative or a close person to be controlled or dosed.
Problem-solving training
Problem-solving training (ESP) is a procedure to train people with Addictions to recognize their problems. Also, to find appropriate solutions to them and implement the best solution in the situation where the problem occurs.
Problem-solving training consists of five phases:
- General orientation towards the problem.
- Definition and formulation of the problem.
- Generation of alternative solutions.
- Decision making.
- Implementation and verification of the solution.
In problem-solving training, you must pass the previous one to move from one phase to another. When there is not enough information in a specific phase, a previous phase has been underestimated or skipped, you are in a training phase, or the chosen solution is not adequate, you have to go back to the previous phase or phases so that once it has been carried out correctly, we can continue with the following ones.
In recent years, ESP has become an element in many treatment programs due to its rationality, ease of explaining the subject, and effectiveness. It is also a strategy included in almost all relapse prevention programs.…